FAQs About the Board

Board FAQs

How is the board organized?

Hillsborough
Township has a nine member elected board and a board secretary. Board
elections take place on the Tuesday right after the first Monday in
November. During the first meeting in January, the board convenes a
reorganization meeting whereby all newly elected members are sworn in
and a president and vice president are elected for a one year term by
the new board. The president is the primary spokesperson for the board.
S/he also ensures that meetings are conducted efficiently. The president
also works closely with the superintendent to discuss long-range plans
for board meetings. The vice president fulfills these duties if the
president is unable to do so.

Who is eligible to serve on the board?

Citizens
of Hillsborough Township who have lived in the district for one year or
more, are registered to vote, are able to read and write, are not
serving as a member of local government, and have no legal or financial
conflict of interest with the board are eligible to serve. Board
elections are held annually in November, and board members are elected
for three-year terms.

What is the purpose of the board?

New
Jersey School Boards Association defines the role of the Board of
Education in the following way: "the role of a board of education is not
to run the schools, but to see that they are well run. To accomplish
this, a board makes policies. Policies are the written expression of the
board's desires for the district's students. The policy statements of
the board serve as a guide to the superintendent and provide him [her]
with direction, a basis for decision making, and an imperative for
action."

What are the primary functions of the board?

- To
provide guidance in the areas of instruction, personnel, general
administration, fiscal and business management, buildings and grounds,
and community relations through policy development.

-
To provide a program of quality instruction by adopting curriculum
standards that create academic goals for students, support professional
development for teachers, and require reporting and evaluation of
results.

-
To provide for the effective management of the district by employing
and evaluating the superintendent, establishing policies for monitoring
district curriculum, finances, facilities, and personnel, and requiring
reports on results.

-
To provide for two-way communication between the community and the
board by informing the public about schools and working to secure public
understanding and support of district goals.

How are meeting times and agenda communicated?

Meetings
are typically held twice a month on Monday evenings beginning at 7:30
PM in the Auten Road Intermediate School cafeteria. The calendar of
meeting dates is available here. Agendas for each meeting are posted on our website. Meeting are announced in The Hillsborough Beacon as well as The Courier News.

How are board meetings organized?

Public
meetings begin with a call to order, flag salute, roll call, approval
of prior meetings' minutes, and the superintendent's report. The public
is invited to ask questions or make comments on any of the agenda items
scheduled to be discussed, providing opportunities for public input.
Board members are also invited to make comments or ask questions.

Does the public have a role in board meetings?

The
primary purpose of board meetings is for the board to carry out its
responsibilities of reviewing, discussing, and making decisions on a
wide range of policy-related issues. The public is permitted to observe
the board at work and is invited to participate in specific portions of
the meeting within the guidelines outlined by board policy. Each meeting
requires that the board conduct its business efficiently, within a
reasonable time frame. Included is the opportunity for questions and
comments from Hillsborough citizens. The board president moderates the
discussion while ensuring that board members have ample opportunity and
information to make decisions. S/he also ensures that the opportunity
for the public to make comment on topics of interest is provided.

Where can I find information about becoming a School Board member?

Information regarding candidacy for a local New Jersey School Board is available on the New Jersey School Boards Association's website.